Nzamwita Jean Noel, Dr. Jean Damascène Iyamuremye, Dr Joseph Juma
Abstract- Worldwide practitioners and scholars demonstrated that drugs and/or alcohols addictions associated with mental illnesses. However, little is known on Psychiatric comorbidity among patient’s substances abuse in Rwanda. The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of psychiatric co-morbidity among the patients with substances abuse in Icyizere centre. This study will be useful to policy markers, community, researchers and professionals to find solution and management of drug consumption among youth. The study was quantitative approach and a cross-sectional study. The target population was 520 patients and the sample of 226 patients was selected using systematic sampling technique. To determine prevalence of psychiatric co-morbidity and substances abuse, descriptive statistics was calculated to show its frequencies and percentages. To determine relationship between psychiatric comorbidity and substances abuse, Pearson correlation was calculated using Statistical Package for Social sciences (SPSS.V.16) for data analysis; and results presented in tables. The results from the present study showed that mostly psychiatric disorders among patients with substances abuse were major depressive disorder 23.3%, followed by Attention Deficit/ hyperactivity disorders 17.7%, posttraumatic stress disorders 10.2%, Generalized anxiety disorders 6.6%, Antisocial personality disorders 6.6%, Panic disorders 5.8%, schizophrenia and psychotic disorders 5.3%, borderline personality disorders 4.9%, social phobia 1.8%, Agoraphobia 0.4% and Suicidality 0.9% . While the most substances abuse were alcohol beverages 89.8%, cannabis 56.6%, tobacco products 39.4%, inhalants 4.4, hallucinogens 2.2 %, opioids 1.3%, cocaine 0.4%, amphetamine types of stimulants 0.4%, and sedatives or sleeping pills 0.4%. A bivariate analysis showed a statistics significant between Suicidality and Tobacco products) r= -0.281 and P< 0.05 (.000); Suicidality and Alcohol beverages r= – 0.145 and P<0 .05 (.029);Suicidality and Amphetamine type stimulants r= -0.168 and P< 0.05 (.011); Attention deficit/Hyperactivity disorders and Cocaine r= 0.144 and P<0.05 (.031); Attention deficit/Hyperactivity disorders and Sedatives or sleeping pills r= 0.144 and P< 0.05 (.031); and Major depressive disorders and inhalants (nitrous, glue, petrol, paint thinner, etc) r= 0.135 and P<.05 (.043). Other variables were not statistically significant. Researcher recommends Ministry of Health in partnership with Ministry of youth and Information Communication Technology, Ministry of Local government, Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion to focus on prevention, treatment program; and creation of reeducation and drug rehabilitation centers in each district in order to support teenagers and youth. Psychologist/counselors should be deployed in universities and high learning institutions in order to detect early psychiatric disorders and substances abuse among students; and clinics, rehabilitation centers should focus on family or/ systemic therapy.
